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Summer Chef Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Solstice Restaurant

Line Cook

Irvine, CA

$17 - $21.25/hr

The seasonal menu at Solstice will rotate four times per year - winter, spring, summer and fall ... chef / kitchen experience in a high volume restaurant environment.

Fooda

Dining Associate

Irvine, CA · On-site

$25/hr

... from their chef's unique menus. Fooda operates in 20 major US cities and plans for continued ... Annual stock option grant each summer * Long-term opportunities for advancement within Fooda

Fooda

Dining Associate

Orange, CA · On-site

... from their chef's unique menus. Fooda operates in 20 major US cities and plans for continued ... Annual stock option grant each summer * Long-term opportunities for advancement within Fooda

Fooda

Dining Associate

Orange, CA · On-site

$25/hr

... from their chef's unique menus. Fooda operates in 20 major US cities and plans for continued ... Annual stock option grant each summer * Long-term opportunities for advancement within Fooda

Fooda

Dining Associate

Irvine, CA · On-site

... from their chef's unique menus. Fooda operates in 20 major US cities and plans for continued ... Annual stock option grant each summer * Long-term opportunities for advancement within Fooda

All JobsSummer Chef JobsSummer Chef Jobs in Riverside, CA

Summer Chef information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$29.7K

$66.8K

$99.1K

How much do summer chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for summer chef in Riverside, CA is $66,763.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52,200.00 and $78,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a summer chef?

Summer Chefs are culinary professionals who typically work during the summer months, often in seasonal establishments like resorts, camps, summer schools, or vacation homes. Their primary responsibilities include planning menus, preparing meals, and sometimes supervising kitchen staff for guests or campers. This role often requires flexibility, creativity in menu planning using seasonal ingredients, and the ability to work in fast-paced environments. Summer Chefs may also accommodate dietary restrictions and ensure food safety standards are met. Their work is crucial for delivering enjoyable dining experiences during the busy summer season.

What does a summer chef do?

As a summer chef, you work through the summer months, typically June through August, cooking during popular and high-traffic tourism and recreation periods. You work in a restaurant, camp, summer school, or resort and provide cooking services for a range of audience types and sizes. Depending on the role, you may prepare meals for small groups or hundreds of diners, oversee a team of cooks, servers, and other staff, cook special dishes for people with unique dietary needs, and develop menus to meet nutrition standards. Your responsibilities include managing inventory, ordering ingredients and kitchen supplies, and budgeting duties for daily menus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a summer chef, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Summer Chef, you need strong culinary skills, knowledge of food safety standards, and experience with seasonal menu planning, often supported by a culinary degree or relevant certifications. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, inventory management systems, and ServSafe certification is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and excellent communication are standout soft skills for collaborating with staff and delivering exceptional dining experiences in dynamic settings. These abilities ensure consistent food quality, efficient kitchen operations, and guest satisfaction during the busy summer season.

What are some common challenges faced by a summer chef, and how can I prepare for them?

As a Summer Chef, you may encounter challenges such as working in high-temperature environments, managing fluctuating ingredient availability, and handling a fast-paced service during peak vacation months. To prepare, it's helpful to practice efficient time management, develop flexible menus that accommodate seasonal produce, and hone your ability to stay calm under pressure. Building strong communication with your team and suppliers can also help ensure smooth operations and high-quality dishes even during the busiest times.

What is the difference between Summer Chef vs Summer Line Cook?

AspectSummer ChefSummer Line Cook
CredentialsHigh school diploma or culinary trainingHigh school diploma or culinary training
Work EnvironmentCommercial kitchens, outdoor events, summer resortsCommercial kitchens, outdoor events, summer resorts
Employer & IndustryRestaurants, catering services, resortsRestaurants, catering services, resorts
Job FocusPreparing and cooking dishes, menu executionAssisting with food prep, supporting chefs, maintaining station

Both Summer Chef and Summer Line Cook roles typically require culinary training and involve working in similar environments like restaurants and resorts during summer seasons. The Summer Chef often takes on more responsibility in menu creation and cooking, while the Summer Line Cook focuses on supporting the kitchen team with food prep and station duties. The choice depends on experience level and desired responsibilities.

More about Summer Chef jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Chef jobs in Riverside, CA?

The most popular types of Chef jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What job categories do people searching Summer Chef jobs in Riverside, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Summer Chef jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Summer Chef jobs?

Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Summer Chef job openings:

Summer Chef jobs near you

After-School Cooking Instructor

iCook After School

Lake Forest, CA • On-site

$60 - $80/hr

Temporary

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Temporary
Description
iCook After School is an innovative educational company that provides a really fun, hands-on after-school cooking and nutrition education program for children age K-4. The focus of the program is to enrich the lives of children by teaching them to love everything about food - cooking, eating delicious and healthful dishes, and learning about different cultures and stories behind the food.
We are looking for people who will share our passion for education, food, and, most importantly, making a difference in lives of our little chefs. This is an amazing opportunity to have a job that makes an impact on children's lives while keeping a flexible, part-time schedule with classes near you. Our educators come from different backgrounds: nutritionist, educators, stay at home parents looking for extra income, students, chefs and many more.
What you will be doing:
  • Lead after school cooking classes for elementary students (K-4) while getting them excited about trying fun and creative recipes, new foods and encouraging them to learn about new cuisines and cultures
  • Teach provided lesson plans related to basics of nutrition and healthy eating to kids in a fun and engaging way
  • Introduce kids to basic cutting and measuring techniques, food safety, table manners and other concepts provided in the curriculum
  • Purchase groceries for each class based on the recipes provided (we reimburse separately for the groceries)

What we are looking for:
  • Experience working with large group of kids (can be in school setting, summer camp etc.)
  • Enthusiastic about teaching, cooking and nutrition
  • Effective classroom management skills
  • Energetic personality and ability to keep students engaged during the class
  • Punctuality and reliability, with access to a reliable form of transportation

What your schedule will look like:
  • All our classes run in the afternoon between 4-5pm, depending on the school, and typically run for one hour.
  • Classes run once per day, Monday through Friday, so the maximum is 5 classes per week (one per day).
  • We do our best to match you with schools convenient to you, but the number of days and specific schedule you're offered depends on your start date, completion of onboarding, and current class availability in your area.
  • Pay: $60 per class (1 hour class time) when working with a co-instructor and $80 per class when teaching independently. This rate accounts for approximately two hours of total work per class, including preparation and clean-up.

Requirements
Age Requirement: Candidates must be at least 18 years of age at the time of hire to meet school partnership regulations.
Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements listed below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Ability to stand and move throughout a classroom setting during program instruction.
  • Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and kneel as needed during program setup, instruction, and cleanup.
  • Ability to regularly lift, carry, and transport program materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to load and unload program supplies from a vehicle, as applicable.
  • Ability to travel to assigned program locations.

Salary Description
$60-$80 per class

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